Strip lighting fixture and connector therefor



Oct. 24, 1967 n. L. JACKSON 3,349,237

TRIP LIGHTING FIXTURE AND CONNECTOR THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.29, 1964 DONALD L. JACKSON INVENTOR.

Oct. 24, 1967 D. L. JACKSQN TRIP LIGHTING FIXTURE AND CONNECTOR THEREFOR2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1964 DONALD L. JACKSON INVENTOR.

BY 7 a g ATTORNEY United States Patent Sylvania Electric Products Inc.,ware W. Va., assignor to a corporation of Dela- Filed Dec. 29, 1964,Ser. No. 421,809' Claims. (Cl. 240-9) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Afluorescent strip lighting fixture in which the main body member is aroll-formed, indented, substantially rectangular-shaped channel designedto receive snap-on lampholder brackets and end plates, and having adovetail track formed in the top thereof to receive a joining plate ateach end thereof and one or more hangers therebetween.

' This invention relates to lighting fixtures and more particularly tofluorescent lighting fixtures. There are many different types and stylesof fluorescent lighting fixtures; some are multi-lamp fixtures andothers accommodate but one lamp; some are quite ornamental in designwhile others are quite simple and essentially functional. This inventionis concerned primarily with fluorescent fixtures which are quite simplein design and essentially functional. More particularly, this inventionis concerned primarily with fluorescent strip lighting fixtures.

In the design of any lighting fixture, it is always desirable to strivefor simplicity of construction and ease of assembly, both in the fixturemanufacturing plant and in on-the-job installations. This isparticularly true insofar as fluorescent'striplighting fixtures areconcerned. These and other desiderata are attained, in accordance withthe principles of this invention by utilizing a rollformed, indentedrectangular-shaped channel designed to receive snap-on lampholderbrackets and end plates, and having a dovetail track formed along thetop thereof which can receive a joining plate at each end thereof andhangers therebetween.

In the accompanying drawings, FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of apair of strip lighting fixtures arranged for end-to-end mounting.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of one tures of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom perspective view of one end of a strip lightingfixture completely assembled.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the fixture of FIG.3.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base member of the fixtureof this invention is a roll-formed, indented, rectangular-shaped channel10, the upper and lower longitudinal edges of each side 12 thereof beingcharacterized by indent segments 12a and 12b respectively. The top ofthe channel is shaped to define a dovetail track 14 within which hangers16, one of which is shown, are slidably disposed. The lateral face 12cof each indented segment 12b which characterizes the lower longitudinaledges of each side 12 of channel 10 is provided with an elongated slot12d near each end thereof. Lampholder brackets 18 are located at eachend of channel 10, the legs 18a of the brackets 18 overlying thevertical face of indent segment 12b and extending through the elongatedslots 12d in the lateral faces 12c thereof. Each leg 18a of eachlampholder bracket 18 is provided with a pair of inwardly struck lances18b which cooperate with a corresponding pair of slots 12e cut in thevertical of the fixface of indent segments 12b to effect a firmmechanical interlocking of the lampholder brackets 18 in the channel 10.Lampholders 20 are snapped into suitable cutouts provided therefor inthe bracket 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of channels 10 are aligned for end-to-endmounting. The channels 10 are joined to one another by a joiner plate 22fitted into the dovetail track 14 at the adjacent ends of the twochannels 10. The joiner plate 22 is provided with a pair of downwardlystruck lances 22a which, when the channels 10 are brought into abuttingrelationship, interlock with co-eperating slots 14a in the tracks 14 ofthe channels 10. It will be noted that the joiner plate 22 isillustrated in FIG. 1 as having legs 22b which are shown in phantom. Thepurpose and function of these legs 22b will be described below inconnection with the description of FIGS. 3 and 4.

Although the fixture illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a one lamp fixture(it has only one lampholder at each end) whereas the fixture illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2 and described above is a two lamp fixture, it includesthe structural features of the latter and thus they will not bedescribed again. Reference was made, in the description of FIG. 1, to ajoiner plate 22 illustrated with a pair of legs 22b shown in phantom.This member is the same structurally as end plate 21 illustrated with apair of legs 21b shown in solid in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the legs21b are provided with outwardly struck lances 210 which, when the endplate 21 is inserted into the end of channel 10, interlock withco-operating slots 10a in the sides 12 thereof as shown particularly inFIG. 3. Thus the joiner plate 22 and the end plate 21 are the same basicmember structurally. When the member is to be used as an end plate, itis inserted into the end of a channel as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.When it is used as a joiner plate, it is inserted into the dovetailtracks 14 at the adjoining ends of two channels 10, and the legs arebroken off as shown in FIG. 1. I As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the channel10 is provided with a reflector 24, sides 24a of which overlie theindent segments 12b which define the lower longitudinal edges of sides12 of channel 10. The reflector 24 is provided with a pair of cutouts ateach end thereof and the lampholder brackets 18 mounted at each end ofthe channel 10 are each provided with a pair of tabs which cooperatewith the reflector cutouts. In assembling the reflector 24 with thechannel 10, one end of the reflector is guided into position withrespect to the lampholder bracket 18 at that end thereof so that thecutouts of the reflector interlock with the tabs of the lampholderbracket. The other end of the reflector is then brought up (FIG. 4 toFIG. 3) so that the tabs 18d of the adjacent lampholder bracket 18 liein the cutouts 24b of the said other end of the reflector. This end ofthe reflector is provided with a latch 26 which extends into a slot 18cin the lampholder bracket 18. A quarter turn of the latch 26 securelyfastens the reflector to the lamp holder bracket. In some cases, due tothe contours of the members involved for example, it may be preferableto employ a latch 26 at each end of the reflector to effect itsattachment to the lampholder brackets.

A strip lighting fixture of the type illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and described above possesses many features and advantageswhich will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. For example,first and foremost it requires no tools for its assembly. It provides abasic design which lends itself to accommodate different numbers oflamps, different types of lampholders, etc. The indented channel and themanner in which snap-in components are assembled therewith provide afixture free of protrusions outside the channel surface, thus insuring asmooth, clean fixture line capable of fitting squarely into corners andcoves. The dovetail track which characterizes the top of the channel notonly receives the joining plates and hangers but it also provides aspace for ballast mounting bolts, etc., and thus makes unnecessary theprotrusion of these items above the top face of the channel.

What I claim is:

1. In a lighting system, the combination of: at least two elongatedchannels arranged in end-to-end relationship, the top thereof having adovetail track formed therein; a snap-in lampholder bracket secured toeach of said channels near each end thereof; and a snap-in dual purposemember comprising a late having a pair of spaced legs normal thereto,one of said dual purpose members being snapped into each of the exposedends of said channels, and one of said dual purpose members, with thelegs broken off, bridging said abutting channels and fitted into andsecured to said dovetail tracks thereof.

2. In a lighting system, the combination of: at least two elongatedchannels arranged in end-to-end relationship, the upper and lowerlongitudinal edges of each side of each channel being indented and thetop thereof having a dovetail track formed therein; a snap-in lampholderbracket secured to each of said channels near each end thereof; hangersfitted in said dovetail tracks of said channels; and a snap-in dualpurpose member comprising a plate having a pair of spaced legs normalthereto, one of said dual purpose members being snapped into each of theexposed ends of said channels, and one of said dual purpose members,with the legs broken off, bridging said abutting channels and fittedinto and secured to said dovetail tracks thereof.

3. In a lighting system, the combination of: at least two elongatedchannels arranged in end-to-end relationship, the upper and lowerlongitudinal edges of each side of each channel being indented and thetop thereof having a dovetail track formed therein; a snap-in lam holderbracket secured to the lower longitudinal indent of each side of each ofsaid channels near each end thereof; hangers fitted in said dovetailtracks of said channels; and a snap-in dual purpose member comprising aplate having a pair of spaced legs normal thereto, one of said dualpurpose members being snapped into each of the exposed ends of saidchannels, and one of said dual purpose members, with the legs brokenoff, bridging said abutting channels and fitted into and secured to saiddovetail tracks thereof.

4. In a lighting system, the combination of: at least two elongatedchannels arranged in end-to-end relationship, the upper and lowerlongitudinal edges of each side of each channel being indented and theto thereof having a dovetail track formed therein; a snap-in lampholderbracket secured to each of said channels near each end thereof; hangersfitted in said dovetail tracks of said channels; a snap-in dual purposemember comprising a plate having a pair of spaced legs normal thereto,one of said dual purpose members being snapped into each of the exposedends of said channels, and one of said dual purpose members, with thelegs broken oflr', bridging said abutting channels and fitted into andsecured to said dovetail tracks thereof; and a reflector closing each ofsaid channels, the sides of each reflector overlying the lowerlongitudinal indents of the sides of each of said channels.

5. In a lighting system, the combination of: at least two elongatedchannels arranged in end-to-end relationship, the up er and lowerlongitudinal edges of each side of each channel being indented and thetop thereof having a dovetail track formed therein; a snap-in lampholderbracket secured to each of said channels near each end thereof; hangersfitted in said dovetail tracks of said channels; a snap-in dual purposemember comprising a plate having a pair of spaced legs normal thereto,one of said dual purpose members being snapped into each of the exposedends of said channels, and one of said dual purpose members, with thelegs broken off, bridging said abutting channels and fitted into andsecured to said dovetail tracks thereof; a reflector closing each ofsaid channels, the sides of each reflector overlying the lowerlongitudinal indents of the sides of each of said channels; and meansfor securing said reflectors to said lampholder brackets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,503,876 4/1950 Krauss 24051.112,734,995 2/1956 Lenze et a1 240-52 2,905,809 9/1959 'Pasucci 240-51112,982,850 5/1961 Lister et al 240-51.11 3,019,332 1/1962 Shifter 24093,070,689 12/1962 McIntosh 240-51.11 3,085,152 4/1963 Schwartz et al.240-51.11

NORTON ANS'HER, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD M. SHEER, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A LIGHTING SYSTEM, THE COMBINATION OF: AT LEAST TWO ELONGATEDCHANNELS ARRANGED IN END-TO-END RELATIONSHIP, THE TOP THEREOF HAVING ADOVETAIL TRACK FORMED THEREIN; A SNAP-IN LAMPHOLDER BRACKET SECURED TOEACH OF SAID CHANNELS NEAR EACH END THEREOF; AND A SNAP-IN DUAL PURPOSEMEMBER COMPRISING A PLATE HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED LEGS NORMAL THERETO,ONE OF SAID DUAL PURPOSE MEMBERS BEING SNAPPED INTO EACH OF THE EXPOSEDENDS OF SAID CHANNELS, AND ONE OF SAID DUAL PURPOSE MEMBERS, WITH THELEGS BROKEN OFF, BRIDGING SAID ABUTTING CHANNELS AND FITTED INTO ANDSECURED TO SAID DOVETAIL TRACKS THEREOF.